Free Sword of Wrath (Kormak Book Eight) by William King

all, about staying alive to enjoy it. Lunar treasure and Lunar weapons would let him do that. “You have a ready answer for everything. I am not sure I trust you.”
    “Is there anything I can do to change that?”
    “I am sure I will think of something soon enough.” Orson considered the possibilities. He had heard all of the dark legends about changelings. He was sure he could find some way to make use of this one’s skills. Perhaps he would not need Count Balthazar’s potions for much longer after all.
    Urag watched them both, so still and silent he might have been part of the furniture. Orson was sure he missed nothing.

    * * *
    T he movement of the ship unsettled Kormak. He felt an occasional distant twinge of nausea. He was not normally prone to sea-sickness, but it was possible that Valen’s Elixir had unsettled his stomach or his balance, or it might be something about the slow roll of this particular tall ship.
    One day at sea down. Another thirteen to go, if they were lucky and the windcaller’s spells worked. The sylphs had all but vanished from sight now. Only if he looked closely could he make out their faint blurred shapes moving among the billowing sails. If he moved closer to them, he felt the protective amulet on his chest grow warm from the eddy currents of their magic.
    Sailors went about their business, clambering through the rigging, standing their watches. Behind them the land was distant. All around was the promise of the open sea. The sky was clear and blue, but he knew how quickly that could change. He found a clear area on the deck and began to do pushups. It had been a long time since he had done any exercise, but this was likely to be the only workout he would get while they sailed.
    As he counted over sixty, a shadow fell on him and he looked up to see a familiar grizzled face. The man was short and dark-skinned with cropped grey hair and hooded brown eyes. He wore the tunic of a Siderean marine, with the silver badge of his rank on his chest. “Sir Kormak, it is a great pleasure to see you again.”
    “Sergeant Terves. I am happy to see you as well. How is it going?” He did another pushup.
    “Well, sir. Well. I am still in Admiral Zamara’s service. Commander of his bodyguard, in fact.”
    “A well-justified promotion.” Kormak gasped slightly as he spoke. He pulled himself into a sitting position and glanced up at Terves. His muscles ached a little. His shoulders felt heavy. He was sweating in the afternoon heat.
    “It is good of you to say so, sir. I must admit I was surprised to see you and Captain Rhiana aboard.”
    Kormak grinned. “I have been dispatched to Terra Nova by King Aemon.”
    “I do not wish to pry, sir,” said Terves, but his stance told Kormak that he would be glad of any information he could get. It would be something to talk about with his fellow soldiers, if nothing else. “I know you have performed services for his majesty in the past. Like that nasty business with the Kraken.”
    Kormak wondered if Terves knew just how important the Kraken’s death had been to the Siderean royal family. The sorcerer had been a bastard of the line, a potential rival claimant to the throne. “I hope it won’t be anything like that.”
    “We all do, sir. From what I’ve heard, Terra Nova can be a dangerous enough place without dark magicians and giant sea monsters.”
    “You have been there before?”
    Terves shook his head. “Most of my service has been south of the Dragon Sea or along the coasts of the Old Kingdoms. This is my first visit to the Far Colonies.”
    “Mine too.”
    “I hope you are prepared for heat, sir, and humidity and biting insects as big as your finger. Mutants and sand demons and cannibal moonchild tribesmen too.”
    “You are trying to scare me, aren’t you, Terves?”
    “I doubt I could do that even if I wanted to, sir. I’ve seen you in any number of tight spots.”
    “And I was glad to have you there.”
    “Good of you to say so,